(1) The office has jurisdiction over, and is authorized to conduct investigations of, all cases and incidents as established within this section.
(2)(a) The director may cause an investigation to be conducted into any incident:
(i) Involving: (A) A use of deadly force by an involved officer; or (B) any death that occurs during or after any other use of force by an involved officer if the use of force may have caused or contributed, directly or indirectly, to the death; or
(ii) Involving prior investigations of: (A) A use of deadly force by an involved officer; or (B) any death that occurred during or after any other use of force by an involved officer if the use of force may have caused or contributed, directly or indirectly, to the death, if new evidence is brought forth that was not included in the initial investigation.
(b) This section applies only if, at the time of the incident:
(i) The involved officer was on duty; or
(ii) The involved officer was off duty but:
(A) Engaged in the investigation, pursuit, detention, or arrest of a person or otherwise exercising the powers of a general authority or limited authority Washington peace officer; or
(B) The incident involved equipment or other property issued to the official in relation to his or her duties.
(3) The director shall determine prioritization of investigations based on resources and other criteria which may be established in consultation with the advisory board. The director shall ensure that incidents occurring after the date the office begins investigating cases receive the highest priority for investigation.
(4) The investigation should include a review of the entire incident, including but not limited to events immediately preceding the incident that may have contributed to or influenced the outcome of the incident that are directly related to the incident under investigation.
(5) Upon receiving notification required in RCW
43.102.120 of an incident under the jurisdiction of the office, the director:
(a) May cause the incident to be investigated in accordance with this chapter;
(b) May determine investigation is not appropriate for reasons including, but not limited to, the case not being in the category of prioritized cases; or
(c) If the director determines that the incident is not within the office's jurisdiction to investigate, the director shall decline to investigate, and shall give notice of the fact to the involved agency.
(6) If the director determines the case is to be investigated the director will communicate the decision to investigate to the involved agency and will thereafter be the lead investigative body in the case and have priority over any other state or local agency investigating the incident or a case that is under the jurisdiction of the office. The director will implement the process developed pursuant to RCW
43.102.050 and conduct the appropriate investigation in accordance with the process.
(7) In conducting the investigation the office shall have access to, and copies of, reports and information necessary or related to the investigation in the custody and control of the involved agency, 911 emergency communication centers, and any law enforcement agency responding to the scene of the incident as soon as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, voice or video recordings, body camera recordings, and officer notes, as well as disciplinary and administrative records except those that might be statements conducted as part of an administrative investigation related to the incident. In addition, the office shall have access to, and copies of, reports and information necessary or related to the investigation in the custody and control of any responding fire department or ambulance service; however, to the extent such information constitutes health care information, such information may only be provided with the consent of the patient or the patient's next of kin or pursuant to a court order.
(8) The investigation shall be concluded within 120 days of acceptance of the case for investigation. If the office is not able to complete the investigation within 120 days, the director shall report to the advisory board the reasons for the delay.
